The impact of Cycle for Survival

Cycle for Survival is the official rare cancer fundraising program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Since 2007, our community has raised $[msk_total_short_formatted] — including $36M in 2025 — for research and clinical trials, allowing MSK scientists to turn bold ideas into lifesaving breakthroughs.

Read our funding report

Two participants at a Cycle for Survival rare cancer fundraiser hug in front of a Tribute Wall featuring emotional written messages.

Two decades of impact

This year marks a Cycle for Survival milestone: Our community has been the voice of people with rare cancers for 20 years.

Today, we are 20 years closer. Closer to beating rare cancers, and closer as a community committed to pushing progress forward and finishing what we started.

In just two decades, Cycle for Survival has transformed what it means to be diagnosed with a rare cancer. 

Kick-starting the new and underfunded

From its start, Cycle for Survival has partnered with MSK scientists to help kick-start new and underfunded innovation.

This community was an early investor in precision oncology, a revolutionary approach that tailors a person’s cancer treatment to the molecular features of their tumor, like genetics, rather than to their tumor type.

Now, testing for the genetic drivers of every individual’s rare cancer is the standard of care worldwide.

Leading the charge against rare cancers

Cycle for Survival continues to fund data science that is integral to every stage of rare cancer research and that will continue to help scientists make connections, find patterns, and discover new treatments and cures.

Data science — including computational biology, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics — offers unprecedented insights into each person’s rare cancer and helps guide treatment decisions.

Cycle for Survival is empowering our doctors and scientists to perform in-depth analysis of an ever-growing cache of data and reveal key details that will help us improve rare cancer diagnosis, predict response to therapy, and improve the care and outcomes of people in treatment.

When I began training as an oncologist 20 years ago, there were few treatments for rare cancers. There was not enough research. There weren’t the right tests. There was no momentum. Thanks to Cycle for Survival, we’ve been able to invest in high-risk, high-reward research that has changed the story — leading to better therapies than we ever thought possible. That is the success and the opportunity catalyzed by this community.

–Ross Levine, MD, Chief Scientific Officer and Edward P. Evans Endowed Chair for MDS at MSK and 15-year captain of Team HOPP: Marcy’s Warriors

Thanks to Cycle for Survival

Because of Cycle for Survival, progress is happening where it matters most. You’re helping researchers at MSK develop new treatments, launch groundbreaking clinical trials, and bring hope to people with rare cancers. Explore the real-world impact your support makes possible.

More precise, personalized care

Cycle for Survival funded MSK-IMPACT®, a test that analyzes more than 500 cancer genes to match patients with targeted therapies. It also supported MSK-ACCESS®, a liquid biopsy that detects cancer DNA in blood.

How do the tests work?

Training immune cells to fight

MSK is a pioneer in CAR T cell therapy, which reprograms immune cells to fight blood cancers like leukemia. Cycle for Survival funds efforts to adapt this therapy for solid tumors, aiming to transform treatment for rare cancers.

Faster FDA approvals

In cancer research, an FDA approval can take decades. Cycle for Survival–funded discoveries have contributed to at least six FDA-approved therapies in just 20 years.

Explore an FDA approval

Innovative clinical trials

Rare cancers are often overlooked in therapy development. Cycle for Survival ensures innovative clinical trials and drug development for rare cancers get the critical funding needed to advance and bring new treatments to patients.

One powerful example

From bold ideas to lifesaving innovations

Watch as the people at the heart of our community share how Cycle for Survival is fueling breakthroughs in rare cancer research at MSK.

What are rare cancers?

Rare cancers — which include brain, blood, ovarian, and pediatric cancers — make up half of cancer diagnoses in the U.S. each year but get disproportionately less funding. We’re changing that.

A participant addresses fellow riders at a Cycle for Survival rare cancer fundraiser.

50%

of new cancer diagnoses

in the U.S. are rare cancers, but these diseases don’t get enough research funds

100+

clinical trials

are funded by Cycle for Survival — all for rare cancers

100%

of every dollar raised

by Cycle for Survival fuels rare cancer research at MSK

Ready to make a difference?

Take action. Make an impact. Your way.

Whether you’re a seasoned supporter or just learning about rare cancers, there’s a place for you here. You can register, learn more, or simply join our interest list to stay connected.

Sign up for a ride

Start a team with friends, family members, or colleagues, and ride together at one of our stationary-cycling events. No cycling experience is needed! You can pedal hard or hardly pedal.

See events

Become a team captain

Become a team captain! Lead your team’s fundraising efforts, motivate others to join you, organize your ride-day schedule, and communicate with your team’s assigned Cycle for Survival staff member.

What to expect

Join the interest list

Want to learn more about how you can support Cycle for Survival? Fill out a quick form, and a member of our team will be in touch.